#14. The Importance of Policy Over Politics.
Democracy is only democratic when voters shed their party allegiance.
Intro
With elections on the horizon in Europe, the UK, and the US, it is crucial to reflect on the essence of democratic participation. Democracy thrives on informed, critical engagement from the people, where policies and their impacts take precedence over the tribal nature of blind party loyalty. However, in the past few years we’ve seen an increasing trend of unwavering support for political parties, regardless of their actions or policies. This poses a threat to the democratic process. This article aims to remind voters that prioritizing the best policies over party allegiance is essential for democracy.
Democracy and Accountability
At its core, democracy is built on the principle of accountability. Elected officials and political parties must be held accountable for their actions, policies, and the outcomes they produce. When voters support their party regardless of mismanagement, corruption and any type of criminality, they undermine this fundamental principle. Blind loyalty to a party discourages scrutiny and critical evaluation, allowing parties to act without fear of repercussions. Impunity!
Accountability is achieved through informed voting, where citizens evaluate the performance of their representatives based on their policies and governance. This ensures that politicians remain responsive to the needs and interests of their constituents, fostering a government that truly serves the people.
This is democracy. Simply voting or partaking in the democratic process is not enough for a person to be a supporter of democracy.
Pluralism and Representation
A healthy democracy requires pluralism—the inclusion and consideration of various viewpoints. Diverse ideas fuels healthy debate, fosters innovation in policy-making, and reduces the chances of entrenching a single ideology. When voters refuse to consider alternatives and remain staunchly loyal to one party, they reject the pluralistic nature of democracy.
Rejecting differing ideas stifles debate and reduces the quality of political discourse. It leads to populism and a '“race to the bottom” approach. It also fosters an environment where policies are not rigorously debated and improved upon, ultimately resulting in flawed governance.
Embracing pluralism means being open to different perspectives and willing to change one’s support based on the merit of policies and their alignment with what is the best for the people and country.
Informed Decision-Making is a Democratic Duty
Being an informed voter is a pillar of democracy. Voters need to engage with the issues, understand the implications of various policies, and make choices that reflect their informed judgment. Supporting a party unconditionally or abstaining from voting when the preferred party is not a viable option reflects disengagement and lack of accountability on the voter’s part.
Democracies depend on citizens who take their voting responsibility seriously, who understand the platforms of different candidates, and who vote based on a thorough evaluation of what is best for the nation.
This approach not only strengthens democracy but also ensures that the elected government is truly representative of the people's will.
Remember that you get what you vote for.
Dangers of Blind Loyalty
Blind loyalty to a political party is a disease with severe consequences for democracy. It leads to the entrenchment of power, where parties become less responsive to the electorate. With no real opposition, the party in power becomes a de-facto dictatorship. This can result in governance that ignores the needs and desires of the people, fostering disillusionment and disengagement among voters.
On top of that, it can allow for the perpetuation of poor policies and governance practices. Without the fear of losing support, parties have little incentive to innovate or improve. This stagnation can hinder progress and the implementation of effective policies that address pressing issues whilst also fostering financial mismanagement, fraud and censorship.
Think about this for a second. If you have allegiance to a political party and you always vote for them regardless of policy, doesn’t that mean you always want them to be in power?
Is that democratic?
Are you truly acting in a democratic way?
The Responsible Voter
As election season approaches, it is imperative for voters to prioritize policy over party. This means informing oneself of what is on offer across the political spectrum. It involves holding parties accountable and being willing to shift your vote based on current realities and policy effectiveness. The word ‘support’ should be banned in politics. We do not ‘support’ political parties, we vote for them with the expectation that they provide us with what they promised. It is not support, it is a contract.
Responsible voters uphold the true principles of democracy, ensuring that their government remains accountable, responsive, and representative. While party loyalty is unfortunately natural, it must not come at the expense of democratic principles.
The upcoming elections are an opportunity for voters to reaffirm their commitment to democracy by prioritizing policies that best serve the country and its citizens. Democracy is strengthened when voters engage thoughtfully and critically, making choices that reflect informed judgment and a commitment to the common good.
A[I] Sidenote
Imagine if we fed an AI system comprehensive knowledge of the nuances, manifestos, and recent history of all political candidates and parties. If this AI were to vote, which policies would it favour? Also, how would AI's voting choices compare to those of human voters?
This could offer valuable insights into the alignment (or misalignment) between policy-driven, data-informed decisions and human voting behaviors influenced by loyalty, emotion, and identity. Elections are organic and emotional. It’s interesting to see whether AI could vote wisely, maybe even better, based on data.
It would also pose an interesting thought as to how politics would change if that is the case. Would politicians need to become more accountable? Would their performance need to be measured differently?
There is potential for AI to be used as an assistant to voters, even if just to challenge their bias.
The assumption being made is that there is a good policy that people would vote for if they dropped partisan loyalties. But it this true? First of all, what a policy *does* is often unclear. Some people may think it does A, others B, where A and B are mutually incompatible. Second, even if they agree on what the policy does, they may disagree on the desirability of the thing it does.
Disagreements on these two dimensions is why you have ideologies and different parties in the first place. America did have a time when it got rid of party politics, after 1816 we had a one-party state. And what happened? They came back.
As you point out, at least in the US, democracy has become a tribal affair that is completely detached from reason and nuanced debate. This is, partly a consequence of the two party Presidential system, and the vetocracy that it has bred, which I analyzed here: lianeon.org/p/democracys-final-days
I do not know how America gets out of this political death spiral, but it must happen sooner rather than later. You already have many in the GOP asserting that they will not accept the election results…unless they win. That is a recipe for civil war.